Everyone talks about Batman, but what about John Constantine?

[golgi]

People say Batman is a prep god. Give him time and he can take virtually anyone out. But what about Constantine? The man bested beings far above his weight class, without any special tech. God and First of the Fallen being some of them. I'd say Constantine is the best in this art. In Marvel or DC.

[Comet Man]

Batman made Constantine look like a bitch in Search for Swamp Thing.

[MajorHoy]

People say Batman is a prep god. Give him time and he can take virtually anyone out. But what about Constantine? The man bested beings far above his weight class, without any special tech. God and First of the Fallen being some of them. I'd say Constantine is the best in this art. In Marvel or DC.

Are you talking Vertigo/Hellblazer version or New 52/Justice League Dark's watered-down version?

[FanboyStranger]

The problem with John is that while he does have a tendency to take down heavyweights, he usually does so with a pile of dead friends lying around him.

[Superdog]

Well... the comparison is sorta goofy because John doesn't actually fight his enemies.

[Roldan]

People say Batman is a prep god. Give him time and he can take virtually anyone out. But what about Constantine? The man bested beings far above his weight class, without any special tech. God and First of the Fallen being some of them. I'd say Constantine is the best in this art. In Marvel or DC.

Pssh, small potatoes. Batman took down Darkseid (technically).

[JimmyOlsenMustDie]

People say Batman is a prep god. Give him time and he can take virtually anyone out. But what about Constantine? The man bested beings far above his weight class, without any special tech. God and First of the Fallen being some of them. I'd say Constantine is the best in this art. In Marvel or DC.

This only applies to the Constantine we've seen in Justice League Dark, but this aspect of the character is getting extremely annoying to the point where no one else in the book is useful. In looking at all the arcs so far, who has it been who's taken down the big bads?

Enchantress: Constantine alone
Vampire arc: Bennett, with assists by Constantine and Deadman, who talked him into coming back to life
Book of Magic arc: Constantine with an assist from Black Orchid (who was being directed by Constantine)

So we have:

The useful characters in JLD: Constantine (x3), Bennett (x1, who is not even really a member of the team), Deadman (x1 maybe), Black Orchid (x1, only when directed by Constantine)

The characters who are less than useful: Zatanna, whose magic has not accomplished anything so far; and Shade and Mindwarp

The character whose only purpose was to be a traitor: Dr. Mist

The not useful characters: everyone else

I'm all right with one guy being the tactician. I'm not all right with no one else in the group doing anything to help. I long for the days when the JLA took down a baddie and they all contributed something to the final plan, or even when they split into groups to solve a problem that they didn't have time to tackle together. We saw the slightest hint of that in the last arc, but it was only a tease, as when they came back together in the annual it was up to Constantine and Orchid to win with no one else helping to defeat the big bad (some took down minions prior to the last battle, but come on).

I'm still trying to figure out why Andrew Bennett was reintroduced in the Annual, did nothing useful, then disappeared by the next issue. Or why Amethyst or Frankenstein were introduced only to do nothing useful (I understand it was so they could be used the following issue, but they could have been introduced that issue instead of in the annual).

Needless to say, none of this has me wanting to buy a Constantine solo series when I am about to drop the book he is currently in due to his overwhelming presence.

[golgi]

Pssh, small potatoes. Batman took down Darkseid (technically).

Some of the characters constantine have taken down are above the likes of darkseid.

[Superdog]

Batman made Constantine look like a bitch in Search for Swamp Thing.

This sentence makes the universe cry.

[Judge-Dredd]

Well I like how of all the heroes to die in Rotworld, Constantine somehow survived. I like that, John's only powers are his wits, cunning, and ability to use people. He'll do whatever it takes to survive. That and he's one of the most confident and arrogant heroes (I use that term lightly) I can think of.

[Desaad]

"Who they can take down" is, like, the least important element of these characters. Just behind who can grow a better beard.

[Outside_85]

People say Batman is a prep god. Give him time and he can take virtually anyone out. But what about Constantine? The man bested beings far above his weight class, without any special tech. God and First of the Fallen being some of them. I'd say Constantine is the best in this art. In Marvel or DC.

Bested might be the wrong word, scammed might be more appropriate.
Added he is probably also one of the least appreciated 'heroes' around. Not the Punisher sort the other capes don't like because of methods when it comes to crime...it's that he's a bastard to everyone he meets. (And I suppose one day someone will not care about his reasons before they take a swing at him, but that may already have happened.)

[Comet Man]

This sentence makes the universe cry.

I apologize and I'll make sure the universe gets a kleenex.